SYNOPSIS OF INTERVIEW: African American entrepreneur Brian Davis started his own service-disabled, veteran-owned company in November 2020. He has received contracts from local companies like BlackRock, and his goal is to grow his business and give minorities an opportunity to do creative and innovative work. He credits mentorship and networking with his success, and he advises other entrepreneurs to follow through on their commitments.

SYNOPSIS OF INTERVIEW: Ivana Oli, co-founder of Beautiful Curly Me, a

company that makes dolls, books, and other products aimed at boosting the

confidence and self-esteem of young black girls. It details how the company

was started by Oli’s daughter Zoe when she was 6 years old because she

wanted dolls that looked like her, and how the business has grown from that

original idea. Oli shares insights into challenges they faced as a startup, the

importance of community, and their goals to impact millions of girls globally.